MERG Operations 2001-2004

From January 2001-2004, D'Amico has served as Operations Coordinator and Director of Special Projects for Meriden Economic Resources Group, Inc. (MERG), a 501c3 non-profit Economic Development Corporation. During his tenure, the organization restructured nearly $6,000,000 in debt on its 14 acres 210,000 sf mixed use industrial/retail site in Meriden along with managing the affairs of the organization which included the management of the property. In the process of restructuring the debt, DíAmico negotiated the recapture of the space from its long time occupants involving nearly all of the 200,000 square feet including 150,000sf negotiations with then occupant Radio Frequency Systems (RFS Cablewave), a global supplier of cutting edge technology in telecommunications, broadcast and defense communications. These negotiations subsequently resulted in a expansion of RFS in the Meriden community at its Pondview Drive location increasing jobs and taxes for the City of Meriden.

As Director of Special Projects, D'Amico conceived and facilitated the development of the Meriden City Center Initiative (www.CityCenterInitiative.com), a community based coalition which, in cooperation with the City of Meriden, privately funded the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for revitalization of Meridenís urban core, which has the 14 acre site as a cornerstone of the redevelopment. For the initial phase of planning, we raised over $125,000 from private sources to supplement MERGís financial contribution to the project. In September 2002, MERG received a $250,000 State Planning Grant awarded by the Connecticut Bond Commission to further refine the plan in anticipation of the development of a Municipal Development Plan for the City of Meriden. This grant was administered through the CT Department of Economic & Community Development. Since the release of that plan the City of Meriden has received State and Federal funds in excess of $2.5 Million dollars for projects including Environmental Investigations, Flood Control and Demolition of the Meriden Hub building. This effort is on going and the town is most recently awaiting the Governorís bonding of $3,000,000 additional dollars which was passed by the State legislature in 2005 and the former mall building is slated for demolition in summer 2006.